Step 1 Soften the clay and apply it over an area of the mirror similar to the area where the gesso is missing.

Before applying the clay use a brush to apply a light dusting of powder or corn starch so the clay will not stick.

Like this...

Lets Try that again

Like this

Step 2 Bake your molds in the oven according to package instructions. You now have a rock hard mold.

Step 3 Mix the epoxy putty according to package instructions and put a blob of it in the area where the gesso is missing

Step 4 Dust the hardened clay mold with powder or corn starch, then put the mold over the epoxy putty blob ( wonder what the technical word is for blob?) and push down

Now lift your mold and let your epoxy putty dry

Then paint

Here's the rope finished

And Here is the flower finished

It's not perfect, but you can come pretty close

I hope I haven't bored you to tears!

If you have minor repairs, see my

previous post on gesso repairEdit: I get many emails regarding how to match the old paint...I hope this helps

Matching paint is where the artist in yourself will have to come out. I actually take my frame with me to the craft store, then I search the little craft bottles of paint to get the closest match, when I find one that works I put a dab of the paint on the frame. Since the fames are old they are often dull and darkened in places from age. So, I often will dab a little darker color on top.....It is kind of like a mad scientist thing...Will it be perfect...No, but stand back to look at your frame after you paint it, I am sure you will get close enough to fool the eye

43 comments:

Carol, you are amazing!! I can't tell you how much I love your blog. You share so much with us and it's such an inspiration for me. I wish I could visit Orange Tree Antiques and meet you, and shop! But it's a "fer piece" from Tucson, AZ!! LOL Have a wonderful and happy holiday weekend!xoxKaren

You didn't bore me to tears... I thought this was very helpful! And your frame turned out great! Makes perfectly good sense... Now I have a framed painting with gesso missing and I can make some repairs myself. If and WHEN I get around to it...I'll post and tell everybody about the magic I learned here at the Polka Dot closet! The CAT looks happy with your work too. have a great 4th, Pat

I wish I had saw this years ago,, I needed this then,, I wish i was in your area,, I would love to go to that sale,, beautfiul cat by the way,, just lovely.You are so smart, you are my crafty hero, i'm always telling my hubby of your talents, you come up with the best stuff!

Oh, Auntie Carol.... You truly are my FAVORITE Aunt... About 3yrs ago when we were celebrating your Niece's : ) Birthday here at the house...Somebody had knocked my Gesso frame off the bathroom wall breaking off the corner edge...I haven't had the heart to throw it away... And then there's YOU!!! and there is now hope for my frame... I showed it to my son who is my Clay guy and he is excited to try it...So I will be sure to post about it.. : )First I need to get the Epoxy Putty.... Too Bad I can't just walk down the street and go digging through your drawers... : )

I never would have dreamed of this. I wish I had read this several years ago before I threw out an antique oval frame that was missing some of it's edgings.I couldn't have done this nice of a job I'm sure! I so appreciate you sharing your tutorials. I find them very helpful.Happy Canada Day!

Thank you so much for this tutorial...very informative. I always come across frames with minor and sometimes not so minor damage, this really helps. "Blob" is a technical term I use all the time, easy to understand and right to the point.I hope your sale this weekend is a huge success.

What a great tutorial!! I saw a frame like this at my local thrift store just the other day that had some missing pieces and I left it of course. Re-thinking that now that I know it can be fixed! Thanks!

I felt like I was reading a great novel that was going to have a GREAT ending! AND IT DID! I just bought this wonderful frame from Germany that is missing a piece. I will try this as soon as possible. I had already thought of the oven dried clay for a mold, but did not know how I was going to get plaster of paris poured inside? Now I know to use the blob of putty. What a wonderful idea! Blessings,Becky